Hand coverings with directional indicators

ABSTRACT

Hand coverings, such as a gloves or mittens include directional indicators, showing left and right hand directions, on the hand covering. The hand coverings may be equestrian gloves or mittens that have both directional indicators and rein placement markings and wear areas. The hand coverings of the present invention may provide education assistance for students with riding instructors, or continually with anyone who has issues with left-right confusion or dyslexia, whether a child or adult. The hand covering may include a heating element to help keep the hands warm, thereby providing a more enjoyable riding experience with better response with the use of the rider&#39;s hands.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/426,741, filed Dec. 23, 2010, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand coverings, such as gloves andmittens and, more particularly, to equestrian training and/or showinggloves with visual indicators depicting right (R) and left (L) as wellas rein placement.

Left-right confusion is a difficulty some people have, especially inyoung children, in distinguishing the difference between left and right.According to research by John R. Clarke (Drexel University), left-rightconfusion afflicts about 15% of the adult population. These people canusually perform daily activities, such as driving according to signs andnavigating according to a map, but will often take a wrong turn whentold to turn left or right and may have difficulties performing actionsthat require precise understanding of directional commands.

The correct positioning of the horse's reins are a key element whenlearning to ride a horse. Many people are not sure of the properplacement of the reins.

As can be seen, there is a need for gloves or mittens that may mitigateleft-right confusion. Moreover, there is a need for gloves or mittensthat help with the correct positioning of the horse's reins when ridinghorses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a hand covering comprises adirectional indicator disposed on an exterior surface of the handcovering, wherein the directional indicator is visible to a user whenthe hand covering is worn by the user.

In another aspect of the present invention, a hand covering comprises adirectional indicator disposed on an exterior surface of the handcovering, wherein the directional indicator is visible to a user whenthe hand covering is worn by the user; a first set of rein placementmarkings disposed on an exterior surface of a ring finger portion and anexterior surface of a little finger portion; a second set of reinplacement markings disposed on an exterior surface of a first fingerportion and an exterior surface of a thumb portion; and a palmar griparea disposed on a palm portion of the hand covering.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective back-hand side view of a glove according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective palm side view of the glove of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective back-hand side view of a glove according toanother embodiment of the present invention showing a stylized handindicator;

FIG. 4 is a perspective back-hand side view of a glove according toanother embodiment of the present invention showing a symbolized handindicator;

FIG. 5 is a perspective back-hand side view of a glove according toanother embodiment of the present invention showing a warming pocket;

FIG. 6 is a perspective back-hand side view of a mitten according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective palm side left hand glove according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective palm side right hand glove according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides hand coverings,such as a gloves or mittens that have directional indicators, showingleft and right hand directions, on the hand covering. The hand coveringsmay be equestrian gloves or mittens that have both directionalindicators and rein placement markings and wear areas. The handcoverings of the present invention may provide education assistance forstudents with riding instructors, or continually with anyone who hasissues with left-right confusion or dyslexia, whether a child or adult.The hand covering may include a heating element to help keep the handswarm, thereby providing a more enjoyable riding experience with betterresponse with the use of the rider's hands.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an equestrian glove 10 (also referred toas glove 10) may be manufactured from materials typically utilized whenhorseback riding, such as cotton, leather, knitted wool, syntheticsuede, nylon, neoprene, cloth, latex, rubber or the like. The glove 10may be generally a standard glove design, utilizing a material coveringall five finger digits, but may alternatively have fewer digits and moreclosely resemble a mitten design, as described below.

A directional indicator 12 may be affixed to the glove 10. Thedirectional indicator 12 may be disposed at the base of the thumb digitarea on the back-hand side of the glove 10. The primary indicators maybe an “L” or an “R”, referring to left and right hand gloves anddirections. The directional indicators 12 may be of various fonts,sizes, colors, material, style or shape. For example, phosphorescentmaterials may be used for the directional indicators 12. The directionalindicator 12 may be utilized, for example, for proper rein placementwhen riding a horse, with the knowledge that the letters “L” and “R” aresignificant visual cues for understanding which way is right and whichway is left, when the rider looks down at their hands while riding ahorse. The directional indicators 12 may be sewn by thread into thegloves or mittens, but may also be affixed by other means, such asthermosetting, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, an adhesive, asnap device, an applique or by any other means or method.

A first set of rein placement markings 14 may be affixed to the glovesor mittens. The first set of rein placement markings 14 may be disposedbetween the little finger and the ring ringer of the left or right hand.In other words, the first set of rein placement markings 14 mayhighlight the left side portion of the digitus annularis (ring finger)and the right side portion of the digitus minimus manus (little finger)of the left hand of the glove or mitten and the right side portion ofthe digitus annularis and the left side portion of the digitus minimusmanus of the right hand glove or mitten. This area may be specific tothe proximal phalanges base area, above the knuckle and the metacarpalarea, with slight overlap from the interior of the fingers to the top ofthe fingers, to allow for enhanced perspective of the rein placementarea for the rider.

The first set of rein placement markings 14 may be formed in varioussizes, shapes, colors, materials and styles. A phosphorescent materialmay be utilized for the first set of rein placement markings 14 toensure the area markings are clearly visible to a rider during the earlymorning or late evening hours. One purpose of the first set of reinplacement markings 14 is when a child or adult utilizes proper reinplacement when riding a horse, the first set of rein placement markings14 provides a significant visual cue for understanding proper reinplacement when they look down at their hands while riding a horse.

The first set of rein placement markings 14 may be generally sewn bythread into the gloves or mittens, but may be affixed by other methods,such as thermosetting, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®,patches, adhesives, snap devices, appliques or the like. The first setof rein placement markings 14 may be the same or may be of a dissimilarmaterial than the rest of the glove. Moreover, the first set of reinplacement markings 14 may be formed from a thicker material to helpprotect the hands of the wearer and minimize wear and tear caused byrein friction from repeated contact with the glove.

A second set of rein placement markings 16 may be affixed to the glovesor mittens. The second set of rein placement markings 16 may highlightrein placement between the index finger of the right and left hands, andthe thumb of the right and left hands. In other words, the second set ofrein placement markings 16 highlights the right side portion of thedigitus secundus manus (index finger) and the left side portion of theopposable thumb of the left hand of the glove or mitten; and the leftside portion of the digitus secundus manus and right side portion of theopposing thumb of the right hand glove or mitten. This area is specificto the proximal phalanges base area of the index finger(s) and thumb(s),above the knuckle and the metacarpal area, with slight overlap from theinterior of the finger and thumb, approximately 1 in width to the top ofthe finger and thumb, to allow for enhanced perspective of the reinplacement area for the rider. The second set of rein placement markings16 may further extend downward across the palm of the glove or mitten,specifically covering the metacarpal or palmar region, as describedbelow with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8.

The second set of rein placement markings 18 could be in any type, size,color, material, style or shape. The second set of rein placementmarkings 18 may include the utilization of phosphorescent materials. Thesecond set of rein placement markings 18 may be used to show when achild or adult utilizes proper rein placement, that the highlightedindicator area provides a significant visual cue when they look down attheir hands while riding a horse.

The second set of rein place markings 18 may generally be sewn by threadinto the gloves or mittens, but may be affixed by various other methods,such as thermosetting, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®,patches, adhesives, snap devices, or appliques. This area may also be ofthe same or of a dissimilar material than the rest of the glove, and mayalso be a thicker material that helps protect the hands of the wearerand wear and tear caused by rein friction.

Referring to FIG. 3, a glove 20 may include a stylized directionalindicator 22. The stylized directional indicator 22 may be, for example,the letter

“R” or “L” in various fonts or shapes, for example. Referring to FIG. 4,a glove 24 may include a symbolic directional indicator 26. The symbolicdirectional indicator 26 may include, for equestrian gloves, a horsehead, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a glove 28 may include a pocket or pouch 30located, for example, in the metacarpal area, specifically the dorsumarea on top of the glove or mitten. The pocket or pouch 30 may includesome type of flap that will allow for sealing shut the aperture openingof the pocket or pouch 30. The flap may be closed by, for example, azipper, snap device, a hook and loop fastener, or some other closuremechanism. The pocket or pouch 30 may permit some type of heatingelement, such as readily available commercial products that createexothermic reactions utilizing iron powder, salt, water, an absorbentmaterial and activated carbon, or a battery powered warming device, tobe disposed therewithin. The warming device may permit the rider toextend their time on the horse and better focus on riding.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a mitten 32 may have similar features asdescribed above. For example, the mitten 32 may include a first set ofrein placement markings 38, disposed in a space between the user'slittle finger and ring finger. The mitten 32 may further include asecond set of rein placement markings 34, disposed between the firstfinger and thumb. Further, the mitten 32 may include a directionalindicator 36, as described above.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the glove 10 may include a palmer grip area 18located on a palm side of the glove 10. The palmer grip area 18 maygenerally cover most of the palm region of the glove and can be a patcharea of varying length and widths. This area may be of various colors,materials, textures, styles and designs.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a glove 40 may have a palmer grip area42 that extends from and merges with a second set of rein placementmarkings between the thumb and first finger. Similar to the glovesdescribed above, the glove 40 may further include a first set of reinplacement markings 44 disposed between the ring finger and littlefinger. Further, the glove 40 may include a directional indicator (notshown), as described above.

While the above description describes equestrian gloves, some or all ofthe above described features may be utilized in other types and stylesof gloves where directional indication may be important. For example,the gloves may be used by pilots or operators of moving vehicles. Infurther embodiments, the gloves of the present invention may be usedwherever gloves are normally worn. For example, the gloves of thepresent invention may find use in sports, such as skiing, football,hockey, boxing and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A hand covering comprising: a directional indicator disposed on anexterior surface of the hand covering, wherein the directional indicatoris visible to a user when the hand covering is worn by the user.
 2. Thehand covering of claim 1, further comprising a first set of reinplacement markings disposed on an exterior surface of a ring fingerportion and an exterior surface of a little finger portion.
 3. The handcovering of claim 2, wherein the first set of rein placement markingsare disposed on a left side portion of the exterior surface of the ringfinger portion and a right side portion of the exterior surface of thelittle finger portion of a left-hand hand covering, and the first set ofrein placement markings are disposed on a right side portion of theexterior surface of the ring finger portion and a left side portion ofthe exterior surface of the little finger portion of a right-hand handcovering, when viewed from a palm-down position.
 4. The hand covering ofclaim 1, further comprising a second set of rein placement markingsdisposed on an exterior surface of a first finger portion and anexterior surface of a thumb portion.
 5. The hand covering of claim 4,wherein the second set of rein placement markings are disposed on a leftside portion of the exterior surface of the thumb portion and a rightside portion of the exterior surface of the first finger portion of aleft-hand hand covering, and the second set of rein placement markingsare disposed on a right side portion of the exterior surface of thethumb portion and a left side portion of the exterior surface of thefirst finger portion of a right-hand hand covering, when viewed from apalm down position.
 6. The hand covering of claim 1, further comprisinga pouch or pocket disposed in a metacarpal area of the hand covering,the pouch or pocket adapted to hold a heating element.
 7. The handcovering of claim 1, wherein the hand covering is a glove.
 8. The handcovering of claim 1, wherein the hand covering is a mitten.
 9. The handcovering of claim 1, further comprising a palmar grip area disposed on apalm portion of the hand covering.
 10. A hand covering comprising: adirectional indicator disposed on an exterior surface of the handcovering, wherein the directional indicator is visible to a user whenthe hand covering is worn by the user; a first set of rein placementmarkings disposed on an exterior surface of a ring finger portion and anexterior surface of a little finger portion; a second set of reinplacement markings disposed on an exterior surface of a first fingerportion and an exterior surface of a thumb portion; and a palmar griparea disposed on a palm portion of the hand covering.